Welcome to a new year! Since 2013, I’ve begun my year with 21 days of prayer and fasting following the habit established by church: Church of the Highlands. https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/ If you are a person of faith, then I encourage you to connect to your local church. Our Pastor Chris Hodges says that real life change happens in the context of relationships.

During this time of fasting and prayer, I sought God to strengthen my finances and prepare Jill and I for the upcoming year. During that time, I felt God say for me to grow closer in friendships and family members I’ve let slip away over the past years. And in that moment, I realized how much we need each other.

Jill and I talked over our vision for 2016 and what we’re believing God for in our finances. I specifically had three specific points, which I will share with you in the next post. During the mid-month, we agreed to start a part-time business selling identity theft protection plans. It’s so exciting for us to be able to talk openly about business and grow something together.

We also discussed my remaining line of credit and credit card, and with her agreement, I decided to balance transfer $1000 to the Barclay’s card I paid off last year. The card was offering a low 2.99% rate. This low rate would allow me to save money on the interest I was currently paying on that line of credit. Also, my Capital One card is offering a zero percent balance transfer rate. I plan on accelerating my payments to $500 per month to pay this line of credit off faster.

Once this line of credit is paid off, I will either re-focus and pay off the balances I transferred over or set aside more money for the wedding. I’m believing and trusting God for big things this year, and in the next post I’ll share how powerfully he’s worked in my life.

For 2016, I’ve discussed with my fiancée to grow in three areas. The last time I got out of debt, I was so focused on debt that I forgot two valuable factors: lost time and missed opportunity. I didn’t save while I was getting out of debt, nor did I look for opportunities to create passive income producing assets.

This time, I trust is going to be different, because of two important people in my life: my God and my future wife. All of this current I owe to Him and her being a part of my life. It’s a truth I’m thankful for more and more every day. I encourage you to save what money you can save and look for income producing assets too. If you don’t build a strong foundation during the storms of life, then you won’t be prepared when the storms do hit. Here’s are three areas we’re focusing on:

Bless others

Invest money into passive income generating assets

Pay down consumer debt

In the next posts, I’ll explain the process I’m using as I’m journeying to a debt free me. If you have any questions, or need a financial check-up, contact me.

Where there is no vision, the people perish:
but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. Proverbs 29:18 Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV)

Since 2012, I’ve participated in 21 days of prayer with my church, Church of the Highlands. There’s two periods during the year, normally the first of the year and beginning of the fall, which for 21 days I seek the Lord through prayer and fasting. More importantly, as the years have passed, I’ve set aside the first of the year for Him. Why? Because there’s a blessing when you return the first to the One who made it all. This process works for me, and may not work for you, but I do encourage you to test it.

During 21 days, I realized that this year would be filled with a lot of unexpected challenges as I ventured to continue my journey to a debt free me. However, I knew that I had to put my trust in someone greater than me and not try to tackle this monster on my own like I had last time. I lead a small group called Dollars & Sense. In this group, I encourage everyone to write out a Vision Statement and a Mission Statement. A vision statement is where you want to be, and a mission statement is how you get there. For 2016, I wrote a vision statement on January 18th. I was believing for a raise, and an extra amount per month to help cover the expenses for the year. Not too long after that date, I had my review, and was trusting for a raise, but realistically planning how to continue my plan if it didn’t happen. While looking over my information, I realized that I did indeed get the raise. But as I sipped my coffee, I was overcome with emotion as I further realized it was what I had written down on my vision statement, but just a little extra!

This moment shows that there is God who can supply all your needs and some. I share this story not to boast in me but boast in Him. He’s not a slot machine, but He does care for our needs. He’s with me through this journey to debt free, and He’s with you too no matter your financial condition. We are all at different places in our financial journey. I encourage you to get good sound advice, and not attempt to do this journey alone. In the next post, I’ll share with you three areas of my vision for 2016.